Therapy is an umbrella term covering numerous forms of mental health techniques, theories, and beliefs.
You can break down therapy into four main groups, and each of those groups breaks down even further.
Therapists starting their own private practice, those new to the field, or just anyone looking for some clarity can benefit greatly from understanding these types of therapy and who they’re best for.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Talking with a professional about problems can help find relief, increase self-awareness, and reach solutions
The scope of psychodynamic therapy is to help the client make sense of what they do, think, and feel by finding hidden patterns in their life and tracing them back to their source, often childhood.
There are two main goals to psychodynamic therapy. The first is to deepen the client’s self-awareness.
The second is to understand how the client’s past experiences impact their present-day thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
By uncovering and identifying these patterns, clients can clearly view their lives and experiences, forming a more positive sense of self.
There are three main subtypes of psychodynamic therapy:
- Brief Psychodynamic Therapy
- Psychodynamic Family Therapy
- Psychodynamic Art (or Music) Therapy
Primarily Treats:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Addictions
- Substance Use
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Behavioral Therapy –
reinforcing positive behaviors while getting rid of negative ones.
With psychodynamic therapy, treatment came from looking back and uncovering patterns. The idea is that once we know why we’re doing harmful things, it’s easier to stop them.
Behavioral therapy is more focused on action.
The idea is that we learned negative behaviors in our past and the best way to unlearn those behaviors is with intentional action.
Instead of talking about how or why we picked up those behaviors, in behavioral therapy, a client will actively work on replacing them with something positive.
There are several different subtypes of behavioral therapy, including:
- Exposure Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
And it primarily treats:
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Panic Disorder
- OCD
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – CBT
replacing automatic, negative thoughts with healthier thinking patterns through strategies and actions
CBT takes a bit from both Cognitive Therapy and Behavioral Therapy.
While being a subtype of behavioral therapy, CBT has become very popular and deserves its own section.
This holistic approach teaches clients to recognize problematic thoughts that keep coming back.
During sessions, the client and therapist will refine new skills and ideas that the client can utilize the next time those intrusive thoughts occur.
A few subtypes of CBT are:
- Cognitive Therapy
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
- Multimodal Therapy
And it primarily treats:
- Addiction
- Anger Issues
- Anxiety
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression
- Grief
- Panic Attacks
- Personality Disorders
- Relationship Problems
Humanistic Therapy
overcoming problems through personal growth, improvement, and self-awareness
Humanistic Therapy is based on the idea that how you view the world affects the decisions you make.
When a person views the world negatively, their mood will continue to decline, perpetuating a negative worldview.
The humanistic approach is focused on improving the client’s self-acceptance and value, with special emphasis on respecting others.
The better the client views themselves, the better the world seems to them.
The three most popular types of humanistic therapy are:
- Client-centered Therapy
- Gestalt Therapy
- Existential Therapy
And it primarily treats:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Addiction
- Relationship Issues
- Low Self-esteem
- Trauma
- Substance Use
- Psychosis
Therapy comes in various forms and styles, all best suited for different things and people.
Finding the right match is key for therapists trying to choose a niche, practices expanding their services, or individuals trying to find the proper care.
If you want even more information about this or anything else mental care-related, we’re here for you! (LINK_CTA)
